Mack Avenue MAC1211 / MAC1211LP
Emmet Cohen (piano); Bruce Harris (trumpet); Tivon Pennicott (tenor saxophone); Frank Lacy (trombone); Cecily Petrarca (koshkah); Philip Norris (bass); Joe Farnsworth (drums); Kyle Poole (drums)
Recorded 2 & 3 January, 2024
Just to set the record straight, Cohen is not the self-proclaimed “vibe provider” that one might assume from the title, but instead the album is a dedication to the pianist’s friend and mentor Michael Funmi Ononaiye who passed away in December 2023. Somewhat of a legend on the jazz scene Funmi Ononaiye was a constant presence at gigs as well as working as the programmer for Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Since their first meeting in 2012, Ononaiye greatly influenced Cohen’s thinking about music and how its performance was enhanced both being engaged with the audience, and when the pianist began his online jazz show Live at Emmet’s Place Funmi was a great advocate of the concept even if on occasion, he was the only one in the audience. Over the course of a decade their friendship deepened, and Cohen has matured as musician far in advance of his 34 years.
A tried and tested formula, Cohen builds the repertoire around a selection of well-chosen standards and his own original compositions, with the result that the album is anything but formulaic. Cohen immediately throws in a curve ball with ‘Lion Song’ a virtuoso piece showing the utmost respect for the legend that is Willie “The Lion” Smith in classic stride style, and follows it with a gracefully swinging ‘Surrey with the Fringe on Top’.
The pianist brings in the horns of Tivon Pennicott, and Bruce Harris on three numbers and features the tenor and trumpet paring boosted with the gutsy trombone of Frank Lacy on the title track for which Cohen writes an interesting score for his frontline only seeming keen to get it done and dusted to let the solos commence. The three-man horn section fare better on the closing ‘Emmet’s Blues’ that professes to be nothing more than a vehicle for blowing over, which they do with honours even all round.
My preference however, must fall with the trio numbers that Cohen has a firm grasp on, leading from the piano but encouraging a genuine dialogue in the process. The reading of the traditional Jewish hymn ‘Henei Ma Tov’ is simply stunning both in conception and execution, while the pianist’s ballad ‘Everlasting’ could be destined to become a standard for future generations.
With Vibe Provider, Cohen has paid tribute to his friend in fitting style and in doing so continued to share his understanding and respect for the jazz tradition that he upholds. As he continues to find his own voice and place in the music, we can rest assured that there is much fine jazz to come from this most engaging musician.
